Dental Emergency

What to do in case of an Orthodontic Emergency

If your orthodontic appliance has broken or become loose, give our office a call as soon as you are able. We prefer you to call our office first, because it allows us to make time to see you and give you the attention you need. If you already have a regular appointment scheduled, please inform us of your orthodontic emergency ahead of time so that we can be prepared to take care of your braces in the most effective and comfortable way.

Loose Brackets or Bands

When a bracket becomes loose, it should be refitted as soon as possible. Sometimes loose hardware requires sliding a bracket off of a wire, or cutting a wire at night or over the weekend. If this happens to you, you may use sterilized and washed (in alcohol) fingernail clippers. Please contact us on the next day we are open, so that we can schedule an appointment to alleviate your issue.

Wire Irritation

If you are experiencing discomfort caused by a wire on your braces, often this can be resolved by moving the wire away from the area that has become irritated. If you move the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser, this can often help alleviate the irritation. If for some reason the wire is painful, you can cut it with sterilized nail clippers. If the irritation continues, please contact as soon as you are able, so that we can schedule an appointment for you.

Lost Separators

Often patients lose a separator during treatment. We are happy to provide a replacement separator, so please give us a call.

Orthodontic Treatment Discomfort

Sometimes during the first week after your braces were placed and any necessary routine adjustments have been finished, you might experience soreness and discomfort. If you need some extra help with dealing with this soreness and discomfort, you may want to consider taking acetominophen or another non-aspirin pain reliever. Another way to help is by using a warm wash cloth or heating pad to reduce jaw soreness.

If you are encountering these issues or other issues with your orthodontic treatment that you feel need attention, please contact us as soon as you can. We will do our very best to assist you in your time of need.